Forces of Evil

If you needed a single piece of evidence to show just why this year’s election is so important, it was provided yesterday by State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (Smithtown). On Monday, in an interview with WNYC, Flanagan referred to NYSUT as a “force of evil” for our support of candidates who support our values (specifically, against APPR and against charter school expansion).

EVIL? This is US he’s talking about. You, Me, everyone we work with. Even within the messy, impolite, world of political races, this is a new low. But for the moment, let’s put aside just how un-democratic a statement like this is. Let’s also temporarily put aside how, regardless of the election, this comment adds more fuel to anti-teacher and anti-union sentiment that causes us so much harm.

We need to focus on what Flanagan’s comments mean for this November. Flanagan has made it clear how he views us and what we can expect in the next year’s legislative session. Unless we can get more pro-education candidates elected in the Senate, we can count on a continuation of APPR and who knows what other damage might be on the way.

This is why every single one of you reading this need not only to vote for NYSUT endorsed candidates, but to do everything you can to help make sure that others do too. That includes talking to your family, your friends, and your neighbors, etc. It also means we need people to make phone calls.